The Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God (Adormirea Maicii Domnului)
is an annual national holiday in Romania on August 15. It celebrates
the Christian belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven
following her death.
The feast day of the Assumption of Mary, or simply Assumption Day or St
Mary’s Day, is one of the most important feasts in the Orthodox
Christian calendar. Large crowds gather in processions and pilgrimages
involving thousands of Romanians occur at Moisei in Maramureș, Nicula in
Transylvania and Putna in Moldavia. St Mary is the patron saint of the
Navy, so the holiday corresponds with the Day of the Romanian Naval
Forces, also known as Navy Day. Events, such as demonstrative shows
featuring navy ships, are held in port cities and often attract
thousands of visitors on August 15.
Assumption Day is a national public holiday in Romania so banks,
public offices, and many private businesses are closed. People intending
to travel via public transport during public holidays must check with
the public transit authorities on any changes to time schedules.
Assumption Day commemorates the belief that when Mary, the mother of
Jesus Christ, died, her body was not subjected to the usual process of
physical decay but was “assumed” into heaven and reunited there with her
soul. This holiday, which has been celebrated since the 4th century CE,
is a Christianization of an earlier harvest festival and, in many parts
of Europe, is known as the Feast of Our Lady of the Harvest. Assumption
Day is celebrated in many countries worldwide.

I always enjoy those posts which give me insight into Romanian and Eastern customs, traditions and beliefs, Daliana. The world might have gown small in terms of transportation and smaller still in terms of communication, but, never-the-less, there is so very much to learn about each other and such little time and opportunity to do it that I really appreciate each glimpse you provide in your posts.